There are several allegorical etymologies (definitions) of the word bhikkhu, which occur frequently in the commentaries. All are fanciful interpretations of the idea of what a bhikkhu is or should be, and these qualities were sought and found in the word itself. Thus we mention here the foll. (a) bhikkhu=bhinnakilesa (“one who has broken the stains＂ i.e. of bad character) VbhA. 328; VvA. 29, 114, 310; PvA. 51. ‹-› (b) Another more explicit expln is “sattannaṃ dhammānaṃ bhinnattā bhikkhu＂ (because of the breaking or destroying of 7 things, viz. the 7 bad qualities, leading to rebirth, consisting of sakkāyadiṭṭhi, vicikicchā, sīlabbata-parāmāsa, rāga, dosa, moha, māna). This def. at Nd1 70=Nd2 477a.—(c) Whereas in a & b the first syllable bhi(-kkhu) is referred to bhid, in this def. it is referred to bhī (to fear), with the further reference of (bh-) ikkh(u) to īkṣ (to see), and bhikkhu defined as “saṃsāre bhayaṃ ikkhati ti bh. ＂ Vism. 3, 16 (saṃsāre bhayaṃ ikkhaṇatāya vā bhinna-paṭa-dharaditāya vā).—A very comprehensive def. of the term is found at Vbh. 245—246, where bhikkhu-ship is established on the ground of 18 qualities (beginning with samaññāya bhikkhu, paṭiññāya bh. , bhikkhatī ti bh. , bhikkhako ti bh. , bhikkhācariyaṃ ajjhupagato ti bh. , bhinna-paṭa-dharo ti bh. , bhindati pāpake dhamme ti bh. , bhinnattā pāpakānaṃ dhammānan ti bh. etc. etc.).—This passage is expld in detail at VbhA. 327, 328.—Two kinds of bhikkhus are distinguished at Ps. I, 176; Nd1 465=Nd2 477b, viz. kalyāṇa(—ka-)puthujjana (a layman of good character) and sekkha (one in training), for which latter the term paṭilīnacara (one who lives in elimination, i.e. in keeping away from the dangers of worldly life) is given at Nd1 130 (on Sn. 810).

1. Bhikkhu Sutta. A monk who knows decay and
death, birth, becoming, grasping, craving, etc., their arising, their
cessation and the way thereto such a monk stands knocking at the
door of Deathlessness. S.ii.43.

2. Bhikkhu Sutta. Whatever monks have destroyed
the asavas by personal knowledge and insight, have done so by cultivating and
developing the four iddhipadas. It is the same for the past, present and
future. S.v.257.

3. Bhikkhu Sutta. The Buddha explains to a group
of monks psychic power and its cultivation. S.v.287.

4. Bhikkhu Sutta. The Buddha tells a group of
monks about the seven bojjhangas and their cultivation. S.v.334f.

5. Bhikkhu or Suddhika Sutta. Four conditions,
the possession of which makes of a disciple a sotapanna. S.v.403.

-- or --

1. Bhikkhu Sutta. Gains, favours and flattery
are a danger even to an arahant unless the freedom of his will is unshakable.
S.ii.238.

2. Bhikkhu Sutta. Once Moggallana and Lakkkhana
saw a Bhikkhu, born as a peta, going through the air, his body, robes, etc.,
on fire. He had been a sinful monk in the time of Kassapa Buddha. S.ii.260.

3. Bhikkhu Sutta. A monk asks for a teaching in
brief and the Buddha tells him that that for which a monk has bias, by that is
he reckoned (i.e., he has to give up all bias). The monk dwells in solitude,
reflecting on this, and becomes an arahant. S.iii.34f.

4. Bhikkhu Sutta. Ignorance consists in
ignorance of the nature of the body, its arising, its cessation and the way
thereto; wisdom is wisdom with regard to these things. The same with the other
khandhas. S.iii.162f.

5. Bhikkhu Sutta. The Buddha agrees with a group
of monks that if when questioned by other sectarians as to the object of their
holiness, they answer that it is the full knowledge of dukkha, their answer is
right; he proceeds to tell them what should be their answer if questioned as
to what is dukkha. S.iv.50f.

6. Bhikkhu Sutta. The Buddha tells a monk about
feelings, their arising and cause, their cessation and the way thereto, etc.
S.iv.232.

7. Bhikkhu Sutta. A monk asks for a teaching in
brief, and the Buddha tells him that he must have truly pure virtue and
straight view. Standing on sure virtue, he should cultivate the four
satipatthanas; thus will he reach his goal. The monk follows this teaching and
becomes an arahant. S.v.142f.

8. Bhikku Sutta. It is by cultivating the four
iddhi padas that a monk destroys the asavas.
S.v.284.

9. Bhikkhu Sutta. See Bhaya Sutta (6).

10. Bhikkhu Sutta. The Buddha tells the monks at
Gijjhakuta of seven things, the maintenance of which among the monks will
conduce to their progress and save them from desire. A.iv.216.